Simply Shoes

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes” ~Mark Twain

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Please remember to join the fun in the “Pay It Forward” giveaway mentioned in an earlier post! Winner will be announced March 1st or 2nd.

I will be “out of pocket” for the next several days and unavailble to  view my regular blogs.  I’ll look forward to catching back up with everyone soon.  As alwyas, thanks for your continued views and comments.

Simply Opinions

(click image to view full size.)

“There are as many opinions as there are experts.”  ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Please remember to join in the fun with my “Pay It Forward” give away that I mentioned in my previous post.

Pay It Forward

Recently I was lucky enough to be selected to “win” a photo at a new blog I had just started visiting.  Toni Johnson, in her Daily Vignette, held a Blog Anniversary Give Away.  It was her way of thanking visitors for their views and comments.  The lucky recipient (me)  would receive an 8 x 10 image of their choice.

I chose this one.  “Winter Tree” by Toni Johnson.  And, this is what I said in my thank you to Toni.

“WINTER TREE” This is the image I pick for my “prize!” I love tree silhouettes and this is an especially nice one. I love black and white and the way this is processed. And, I love rural scenes. The mood of this piece takes me back to my childhood; fond memories of my grandparents farm.

And, in case you are wondering — “Through the Mist” was a close second in my deliberation!

Again, a huge Thank You!

Many blogs I visit are employing what is called “Pay It Forward.”  My humble and simplistic interpretation of the concept is share a little joy with others; use one’s photography to make other people happy.  But you can read here for a larger “take” on the topic.

So, here is what I’m going to do.  I’m going to “Pay It Forward” by giving away, to one lucky blog viewer, one 8 x 10 image of their choice.  Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit my Smugmug account and leave a comment indicating the one image you would choose if you were selected, and tell “why” you would select that particular image.  For this drawing, one entry (comment)  per person, please.  (EDIT:  Please make sure you sign your name or indicate who is leaving the comment.  After a bit, “guest” might get a little confusing.    )
2. That’s it.

Here’s what I will do:

1. As I approve the comments on Smugmug, I will assign a comment number.  Using a random generator program, I will select one winning number from the total comments received (and approved*.)  The deadline for entry is midnight (CST) Februrary 28, 2009.
2. The winner will be announced March 1st or 2nd on my blog.
3. I will email the winner to inform them of their selection and acquire their mailing address.  I will order their desired image, sign it, and send it to the winner!

Hopefully this gesture will spread a little fun, anticipation, excitement, and pleasure while allowing me to “Pay It Forward” and say thanks to my blog visitors and friends. Have fun viewing the images on Smugmug and dreaming of which image you would enjoy owning!  One lucky winner’s wish will come true!

* Spammers will not be approved.  All others will!

Age

“The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they’re too old to do it.” ~Anne Bancroft

“I can remember when the air was clean and sex was dirty.” ~George Burns

“The woman who tells her age is either too young to have anything to lose or too old to have anything to gain.” ~Chinese Proverb

“You know you’re getting old when everything hurts. And what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.” ~Hy Gardner

Simply Happy

“There may be Peace without Joy, and Joy without Peace,
but the two combined make Happiness.” ~ John Buchan

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As a side note, today’s featured image was used as a composite layer in the “Dearest Girlie” post.

Simply Emotional

“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge” ~Audre Lorde

Do you like to read about how pieces come “to be?”  This particular piece has a story.

My massage therapist is also an artist… and, my friend.  We talk frequently about photography, art, the creative process, emotion and feeling in art, etc.

Her home is FILLED with interesting art; many pieces being her own personally created original art.  I had frequently commented that I wanted to bring my camera and take some photos especially to use as texture layers.  One day last week, I did just that.

As she watched me shooting throughout her home, we talked about the creative process involved with creating images from composite layers in Photoshop.  I expressed to her that adding texture layers, or composite image layers, is much like painting and requires, in my opinion, artistic vision.

I quickly agreed to her suggestion of trading, using the barter system, a massage for a Photoshop session to teach her how to use layers for composites and textures.  Her assignment is to take photographs of various textures and items in her home. At our Photoshop training session, I will teach her how to take those individual photos and create a textured photographic piece of art.

After that, I get a nice soothing massage!  Sounds like a good deal to me!

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Inquiring minds want to know….

Many times people ask, “What did the original image look like?”  Here are two of the three layers used in the above piece.

A vase on her table:

The glass in her china cabinet with colorful china stored on the shelves.

Contemporary Wall Arrangement

Winter time blahs have set in, and I felt the need for a new arrangement of art for my office.

I recently had placed an order to re-stock images at the galleries that feature my work.  I just couldn’t part with these, however, and grouped them for a contemporary wall arrangement.  They are really, really cool.  Who would have ever thought that old beat up rusty cars could provide contemporary art!  I guess I can always re-order, can’t I?

If you are looking for something contemporary looking, consider these.  They really are stunning printed and framed!

The Gift

May no gift be too small to give,
nor too simple to receive,
which is wrapped in thoughtfulness
and tied with love.
~ by L.O. Baird

My Valentine wish for all of my blog visitors and viewers is that each of you are surrounded with the warmth of love this weekend.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rose: “Love”

The back of this postcard reads:

Hello Annie,

How are you.  I am about well again.  The doctor had to cut into the finger pretty deep Monday but after that I got right smart better.  Aiming to shuck corn tomorrow but I don’t know whether I can or not.  Bye Bye.

With Love  From

Eielt

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Annie was my grandmother and Eielt was my grandfather.

Dearest Girlie:-

I stumbled on a post card written to my grandmother from ‘Seth.’  I wonder  “Who is Seth?”  And, why would her call her “Dearest Girlie”  ?   Hmmmmm…. 

This is a composite of two images — the post card image and a tulip image.